Former Revs Larentowicz, Thompson lift MLS Cup

TORONTO – Former Revolution midfielders Jeff Larentowicz and Wells Thompson, who played in three MLS Cup Finals between them with the Revolution during the mid-2000s but came up short each time, finally secured the elusive league championship as the Colorado Rapids triumphed over FC Dallas 2-1 in last night’s MLS Cup final.

Larentowicz, who started the match for the Rapids, played an integral role in Colorado’s success alongside Pablo Mastroeni in the midfield. His free kick from 30-yards in the 62nd minute nearly leveled it before Kevin Hartman swatted it wide of the far post. The surprising supplemental draftee, who emerged as one of the best central midfielders in the league during his stay in New England, played for the Revolution from 2005-2009 before he was traded along with Thompson to Colorado in exchange for Preston Burpo and Cory Gibbs on January 21, 2010.

Thompson came on as a substitute in the 90th minute, when he took the place of Jamie Smith and helped steer the attack along the right channel in overtime. The former first round draft pick, whom the Revolution traded-up to select at the sixth spot during the 2007 SuperDraft, played in New England from 2007-2009.

On the other side of the pitch, another former Revolution midfielder – Daniel Hernandez – ultimately came up empty-handed for the third time in his career after playing in the 2005 and 2006 MLS Cups with New England, who dropped both to Los Angeles and Houston, respectively.